Pat Turner Scholarship

The Pat Turner Scholarship Program provides full pay scholarships for Australian Public Service employees to complete full time post-graduate study at the Australian National University or Charles Darwin University.

The scholarship program contributes to the improvement of Australian public policy by scholars researching complex topics of national significance and by building the leadership capabilities of Indigenous APS employees through targeted leadership training and networking opportunities.

The scholarship program is only available to Indigenous staff employed in participating APS agencies. Applicants must have a minimum of three years’ service in the APS. The scholarship is available for staff between levels APS4 and SES B1.

What is offered?

A full-time post-graduate scholarship at the ANU or CDU on full pay.

An SES mentor to support scholars to remain actively engaged with their agency.

A tailored pastoral program and leadership development opportunities.

All course fees paid by the scholarship

For scholars undertaking a PhD, an international travel fund

What is required of scholars?

Commitment to complete their chosen course of study in the minimum requisite time-frame.

Commitment to return to service to the APS for a period equal to the length of study.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for Indigenous people who have the potential to become senior leaders in the APS. Scholarship recipients will have the capacity to thrive during periods of transformative change; focus on complex policy and delivery challenges; work across boundaries; and improve the performance and engagement of their teams.

We want scholars to use initiative and personal drive to build linkages and forge relationships that will allow them to make a significant contribution to their agency during the scholarship and on return.

What types of courses are available?

We are looking for Indigenous APS employees to undertake any post-graduate study: from post-grad diplomas, through to Masters Courses, all the way to PhDs.

While some applicants will be interested in studying Indigenous-related courses or topics, it is not a requirement for this scholarship.

How will applicants be selected?

The first step is to work out which post-graduate course is right for you. Course advice is available via the Foundation: we can put you in touch with the Tjabal Centre (ANU) or the Office of Indigenous Student Services (CDU) or the appropriate College. Holding a Bachelor degree is a minimum requirement for any post graduate study. Each course will have its own admission requirements and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the admission requirements before submitting an application

Next, applicants submit applications for internal review to their agency. Each agency will choose appropriate candidates to put forward for shortlisting to the Pat Turner Scholarship Selection Committee.

Agencies will nominate candidates who have high leadership potential, initiative, personal drive and resilience. Post-graduate study is demanding. The prescribed timeframe will be short, and high expectations are placed on scholars to deliver results in both their studies, and in Pat Turner/Sir Roland Wilson activities.

Nominated candidates will be shortlisted by the Selection Committee before selection interviews are conducted. We will award up to six scholarships each year.

Pat Turner

Patricia Turner, AM is the daughter of an Arrente man and a Gurdanji woman and was raised in Alice Springs.

Pat’s career as a public servant included many great achievements. She was the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Deputy CEO of ATSIC at its inception. She was also responsible for setting up the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation when working in the Dept of Prime Minister & Cabinet.

After winning the Monash Chair of Australian Studies, Georgetown University she moved to Washington DC as Professor of Australian Studies. She was the inaugural CEO of NITV, and was appointed NACCHO Chief Executive Officer in April 2016.

Pat has actively promoted self-determination and social justice for Aboriginal people throughout her career.